Vibrational Kinetics of NO and N2 in the Earth's Middle Atmosphere During GLE69 on January 20, 2005

Abstract

AbstractThe mechanisms of the production of vibrationally excited NO and N2 molecules at the altitudes of the middle atmosphere of the Earth during high‐energetic proton precipitation on 20 January 2005 are considered. The study of vibrational populations N2(X1Σg+,v′ > 0) during high‐energetic proton precipitation has shown different principal mechanisms in the N2(X1Σg+,v′ > 0) excitation. First, the excitation by secondary electrons is principal for vibrational levels v′ = 1−10. Second, it is obtained that intramolecular electron energy transfer process in N2(A3Σu+)+N2 collisions dominates in vibrational excitation of high vibrational levels v′ = 20−30. It is shown that the chemical reaction of metastable atomic nitrogen with molecular oxygen is the main production mechanism of vibrationally excited NO(X2Π,v > 0) and of the radiation of 5.3 and 2.7 μm infrared emissions at these altitudes. The calculated intensities of the 5.3 μm emission are compared with experimental data from SABER instrument on TIMED spacecraft received at the time of the proton precipitation. The role of VV′‐processes in the radiation of 5.3 μm infrared emission is discussed.